Aronson Gallery

Experience the African-American journey through the brush strokes of two noted painters: Father James Hasse of the Society of Jesus and Judge Nathan B. Young.

Father James Hasse spent over 40 years of his ministry in African-American parishes throughout the Midwest. He was deeply influenced by the community he served, and his work reflects Biblical themes, as related to the strife of the African-American woman. In 2008, Father Hasse received the Martin Luther King "Keep the Dream Alive" award presented by St. Mark's parish in Cincinnati, Ohio, recognizing his service in African American communities.

After graduating from Yale University law school, Judge Young practiced for nearly 40 years in St. Louis, co-founded the St. Louis American newspaper; and became the first African-American municipal judge in the city. .

A prolific painter, Young's body of work stands as a visual and written documentation of political events in the United States and the history of African American experience in this country. A number of his images were taken from the pages of Time Magazine and reformulated into painted collages. He created paintings that chronicled the changes and development of the American experience for African-Americans, while conveying the need for change and development.